Vettel adds contentious tyre test amid flyaway races

Sebastian Vettel will participate in Pirelli's Spain tyre test on the same week as the Japanese Grand Prix, adding an extra "complication" amid Formula 1's end-of-year flyaways.

Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull have all offered to take part in the October 7-8 test at Barcelona, after Pirelli requested the extra test in order to prove its latest 2020 constructions on a high severity circuit.

It had completed its last planned running for next year's tyres with Mercedes at Paul Ricard earlier this month.

Some teams were opposed to the test but the FIA opted to accept that a 70% vote in favour of the idea among the teams would be sufficient.

Ferrari has now confirmed Vettel will take part on its behalf, with the test running on Monday and Tuesday leading up to the race at Suzuka.

"We've asked so many times different things of Pirelli, it was only our duty to do these tests when they ask us to go and test these latest evolutions," said Ferrari's sporting director Laurent Mekies.

"Yes, logistically it is complicated. Sebastian will drive there and at the very end of the test he will fly to Japan. We felt it was our duty towards everything we're asking of Pirelli to support [them]."